In mathematics, equality is a relationship between two quantities or, more generally two mathematical expressions, asserting that the quantities have the same value, or that the expressions represent the same mathematical object. The equality between $A$ and $B$ is written $A=B$, and pronounced $A$ equals $B$. The symbol "=" is called an *equals sign*. For example: - $x=y$ means that $x$ and $y$ denote the same object. ${ }^{[2]}$ - The identity $(x+1)^2=x^2+2 x+1$ means that if $x$ is any number, then the two expressions have the same value. This may also be interpreted as saying that the two sides of the equals sign represent the same function. Two objects that are *not equal* are said to be [[distinct]].